Multi-Factor Authentication and Post-Authentication Processing System

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/598,265, filed on Mar. 7, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/129,414, filed on Sep. 12, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,961,106, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/557,355, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present disclosure relates to apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer generated user interfaces for using a plurality of factors, such as computer-readable indicia, to authenticate consumer products, such as articles of footwear, articles of apparel, athletic equipment, or any other type of consumer product. The present disclosure further relates to apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer generated user interfaces for monitoring user-interactions with authenticated products and/or with elements related to the authenticated products, and providing various products and services to users based on the user-interactions. The present disclosure further relates to apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer generated user interfaces for monitoring activities of a user via an image capturing device, and providing various products and services to the user based on the activities.

Recent years have ushered in dramatic advancements in electronic computing devices and their capabilities, including advances in radio wave based tracking devices. The present disclosure provides for an apparatus, system, and method for authenticating consumer products in part based on the use of these tracking devices. Prior methods of authentication generally relied on building specific design elements or labels into the product itself. The use of tracking devices in combination with one or more additional factors allows for efficient and affordable authentication, while also providing additional opportunities to increase interaction with the users of the consumer products.

The current disclosure is directed towards systems and methods to overcome one or more of the deficiencies above as well as others in the art.

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. The summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the description below.

Various aspects of this disclosure relate to systems and methods for authenticating a physical asset based on a scanning of an electronic tag and additional factors. An end-user computing device may utilize an imaging device to capture input from an electronic tag of a physical asset. The end-user computing device may generate supplemental digital data associated with the input. The end-user computing device may transmit the input and the supplemental digital data to an authentication and digital assets server. The authentication and digital assets server may authenticate the physical asset and transmit the authentication results to the end-user computing device, which may display the authentication results. If the authentication of the physical asset is successful, the authentication and digital assets server may select one or more digital assets and transmit the one or more digital assets to the end-user computing device. The end-user computing device may display the one or more digital assets.

Aspects of this disclosure involve authenticating a physical asset based on an electronic tag and one or more additional factors, and providing a user associated with the physical asset one or more digital assets. Aspects of this disclosure further involve tracking user interactions with the digital assets, and rewarding the user with additional digital assets or physical assets based on the interactions.

In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Further, headings within this disclosure should not be considered as limiting aspects of the disclosure and the example embodiments are not limited to the example headings.

Aspects of this disclosure relate to systems and methods that may be utilized across a plurality of networks. In this regard, certain embodiments may be configured to adapt to dynamic network environments. Further embodiments may be operable in differing discrete network environments.illustrates an example of a personal training systemin accordance with example embodiments. Example systemmay include one or more interconnected networks, such as the illustrative body area network (BAN), local area network (LAN), and wide area network (WAN). As shown in(and described throughout this disclosure), one or more networks (e.g., BAN, LAN, and/or WAN), may overlap or otherwise be inclusive of each other. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the illustrative networks-are logical networks that may each comprise one or more different communication protocols and/or network architectures and yet may be configured to have gateways to each other or other networks. For example, each of BAN, LANand/or WANmay be operatively connected to the same physical network architecture, such as cellular network architectureand/or WAN architecture. For example, portable electronic device, which may be considered a component of both BANand LAN, may comprise a network adapter or network interface card (NIC) configured to translate data and control signals into and from network messages according to one or more communication protocols, such as the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the Internet Protocol (IP), and the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) through one or more of architecturesand/or. These protocols are well known in the art, and thus will not be discussed here in more detail.

Network architecturesandmay include one or more information distribution network(s), of any type(s) or topology(s), alone or in combination(s), such as for example, cable, fiber, satellite, telephone, cellular, wireless, etc. and as such, may be variously configured such as having one or more wired or wireless communication channels (including but not limited to: WiFi®, Bluetooth®, Near-Field Communication (NFC) and/or ANT technologies). Thus, any device within a network of, (such as portable electronic deviceor any other device described herein) may be considered inclusive to one or more of the different logical networks-. With the foregoing in mind, example components of an illustrative BAN and LAN (which may be coupled to WAN) will be described.

LANmay include one or more electronic devices, such as for example, computer device. Computer device, or any other component of system, may comprise a mobile terminal, such as a telephone, music player, tablet, netbook or any portable device. In other embodiments, computer devicemay comprise a media player or recorder, desktop computer, server(s), a gaming console, such as for example, a Microsoft® XBOX, Sony® Playstation, and/or a Nintendo® Wii gaming consoles. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that these are merely example devices for descriptive purposes and this disclosure is not limited to any console or computing device.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the design and structure of computer devicemay vary depending on several factors, such as its intended purpose. One example implementation of computer deviceis provided in, which illustrates a block diagram of computing device. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosure ofmay be applicable to any device disclosed herein. Devicemay include one or more processors, such as processor-and-(generally referred to herein as “processors” or “processor”). Processorsmay communicate with each other or other components via an interconnection network or bus. Processormay include one or more processing cores, such as cores-and-(referred to herein as “cores” or more generally as “core”), which may be implemented on a single integrated circuit (IC) chip.

Coresmay comprise a shared cacheand/or a private cache (e.g., caches-and-, respectively). One or more caches/may locally cache data stored in a system memory, such as memory, for faster access by components of the processor. Memorymay be in communication with the processorsvia a chipset. Cachemay be part of system memoryin certain embodiments. Memorymay include, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and include one or more of solid-state memory, optical or magnetic storage, and/or any other medium that can be used to store electronic information. Yet other embodiments may omit system memory.

Systemmay include one or more I/O devices (e.g., I/O devices-through-, each generally referred to as I/O device). I/O data from one or more I/O devicesmay be stored at one or more caches,and/or system memory. Each of I/O devicesmay be permanently or temporarily configured to be in operative communication with a component of systemusing any physical or wireless communication protocol.

Returning to, four example I/O devices (shown as elements-) are shown as being in communication with computer device. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of devices-may be stand-alone devices or may be associated with another device besides computer device. For example, one or more I/O devices may be associated with or interact with a component of BANand/or WAN. I/O devices-may include, but are not limited to athletic data acquisition units, such as for example, sensors. One or more I/O devices may be configured to sense, detect, and/or measure an athletic parameter from a user, such as user. Examples include, but are not limited to: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a location-determining device (e.g., GPS), light (including non-visible light) sensor, temperature sensor (including ambient temperature and/or body temperature), sleep pattern sensors, heart rate monitor, image-capturing sensor, moisture sensor, force sensor, compass, angular rate sensor, and/or combinations thereof among others.

In further embodiments, I/O devices-may be used to provide an output (e.g., audible, visual, or tactile cue) and/or receive an input, such as a user input from athlete. Example uses for these illustrative I/O devices are provided below, however, those skilled in the art will appreciate that such discussions are merely descriptive of some of the many options within the scope of this disclosure. Further, reference to any data acquisition unit, I/O device, or sensor is to be interpreted disclosing an embodiment that may have one or more I/O device, data acquisition unit, and/or sensor disclosed herein or known in the art (either individually or in combination).

Information from one or more devices (across one or more networks) may be used to provide (or be utilized in the formation of) a variety of different parameters, metrics or physiological characteristics including but not limited to: motion parameters, such as speed, acceleration, distance, steps taken, direction, relative movement of certain body portions or objects to others, or other motion parameters which may be expressed as angular rates, rectilinear rates or combinations thereof, physiological parameters, such as calories, heart rate, sweat detection, effort, oxygen consumed, oxygen kinetics, and other metrics which may fall within one or more categories, such as: pressure, impact forces, information regarding the athlete, such as height, weight, age, demographic information and combinations thereof.

Systemmay be configured to transmit and/or receive athletic data, including the parameters, metrics, or physiological characteristics collected within systemor otherwise provided to system. As one example, WANmay comprise server. Servermay have one or more components of systemof. In one embodiment, servercomprises at least a processor and a memory, such as processorand memory. Servermay be configured to store computer-executable instructions on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The instructions may comprise athletic data, such as raw or processed data collected within system. Systemmay be configured to transmit data, such as energy expenditure points, to a social networking website or host such a site. Servermay be utilized to permit one or more users to access and/or compare athletic data. As such, servermay be configured to transmit and/or receive notifications based upon athletic data or other information.

Returning to LAN, computer deviceis shown in operative communication with a display device, an image-capturing device, sensorand exercise device, which are discussed in turn below with reference to example embodiments. In one embodiment, display devicemay provide audio-visual cues to athleteto perform a specific athletic movement. The audio-visual cues may be provided in response to computer-executable instruction executed on computer deviceor any other device, including a device of BANand/or WAN. Display devicemay be a touchscreen device or otherwise configured to receive a user-input.

In one embodiment, data may be obtained from image-capturing deviceand/or other sensors, such as sensor, which may be used to detect (and/or measure) athletic parameters, either alone or in combination with other devices, or stored information. Image-capturing deviceand/or sensormay comprise a transceiver device. In one embodiment sensormay comprise an infrared (IR), electromagnetic (EM) or acoustic transceiver. For example, image-capturing device, and/or sensormay transmit waveforms into the environment, including towards the direction of athleteand receive a “reflection” or otherwise detect alterations of those released waveforms. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that signals corresponding to a multitude of different data spectrums may be utilized in accordance with various embodiments. In this regard, devicesand/ormay detect waveforms emitted from external sources (e.g., not system). For example, devicesand/ormay detect heat being emitted from userand/or the surrounding environment. Thus, image-capturing deviceand/or sensormay comprise one or more thermal imaging devices. In one embodiment, image-capturing deviceand/or sensormay comprise an IR device configured to perform range phenomenology.

In one embodiment, exercise devicemay be any device configurable to permit or facilitate the athleteperforming a physical movement, such as for example a treadmill, step machine, etc. There is no requirement that the device be stationary. In this regard, wireless technologies permit portable devices to be utilized, thus a bicycle or other mobile exercising device may be utilized in accordance with certain embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that equipmentmay be or comprise an interface for receiving an electronic device containing athletic data performed remotely from computer device. For example, a user may use a sporting device (described below in relation to BAN) and upon returning home or the location of equipment, download athletic data into elementor any other device of system. Any I/O device disclosed herein may be configured to receive activity data.

BANmay include two or more devices configured to receive, transmit, or otherwise facilitate the collection of athletic data (including passive devices). Exemplary devices may include one or more data acquisition units, sensors, or devices known in the art or disclosed herein, including but not limited to I/O devices-. Two or more components of BANmay communicate directly, yet in other embodiments, communication may be conducted via a third device, which may be part of BAN, LAN, and/or WAN. One or more components of LANor WANmay form part of BAN. In certain implementations, whether a device, such as portable device, is part of BAN, LAN, and/or WAN, may depend on the athlete's proximity to an access point to permit communication with mobile cellular network architectureand/or WAN architecture. User activity and/or preference may also influence whether one or more components are utilized as part of BAN. Example embodiments are provided below.

Usermay be associated with (e.g., possess, carry, wear, and/or interact with) any number of devices, such as portable device, shoe-mounted device, wrist-worn deviceand/or a sensing location, such as sensing location, which may comprise a physical device or a location that is used to collect information. One or more devices,,, and/ormay not be specially designed for fitness or athletic purposes. Indeed, aspects of this disclosure relate to utilizing data from a plurality of devices, some of which are not fitness devices, to collect, detect, and/or measure athletic data. In certain embodiments, one or more devices of BAN(or any other network) may comprise a fitness or sporting device that is specifically designed for a particular sporting use. As used herein, the term “sporting device” includes any physical object that may be used or implicated during a specific sport or fitness activity. Exemplary sporting devices may include, but are not limited to: golf balls, basketballs, baseballs, soccer balls, footballs, powerballs, hockey pucks, weights, bats, clubs, sticks, paddles, mats, and combinations thereof. In further embodiments, exemplary fitness devices may include objects within a sporting environment where a specific sport occurs, including the environment itself, such as a goal net, hoop, backboard, portions of a field, such as a midline, outer boundary marker, base, and combinations thereof.

In this regard, those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more sporting devices may also be part of (or form) a structure and vice-versa, a structure may comprise one or more sporting devices or be configured to interact with a sporting device. For example, a first structure may comprise a basketball hoop and a backboard, which may be removable and replaced with a goal post. In this regard, one or more sporting devices may comprise one or more sensors, such as one or more of the sensors discussed above in relation to, that may provide information utilized, either independently or in conjunction with other sensors, such as one or more sensors associated with one or more structures. For example, a backboard may comprise a first sensor configured to measure a force and a direction of the force by a basketball upon the backboard and the hoop may comprise a second sensor to detect a force. Similarly, a golf club may comprise a first sensor configured to detect grip attributes on the shaft and a second sensor configured to measure impact with a golf ball.

Looking to the illustrative portable device, it may be a multi-purpose electronic device, that for example, includes a telephone or digital music player, including an IPOD®, IPAD®, or iPhone®, brand devices available from Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, California or Zune® or Microsoft® Windows devices available from Microsoft of Redmond, Washington. As known in the art, digital media players can serve as an output device, input device, and/or storage device for a computer. Devicemay be configured as an input device for receiving raw or processed data collected from one or more devices in BAN, LAN, or WAN. In one or more embodiments, portable devicemay comprise one or more components of computer device. For example, portable devicemay be include a display, image-capturing device, and/or one or more data acquisition devices, such as any of the I/O devices-discussed above, with or without additional components, so as to comprise a mobile terminal.

a. Illustrative Apparel/Accessory Sensors

In certain embodiments, I/O devices may be formed within or otherwise associated with user'sclothing or accessories, including a watch, armband, wristband, necklace, shirt, shoe, or the like. These devices may be configured to monitor athletic movements of a user. It is to be understood that they may detect athletic movement during user'sinteractions with computer deviceand/or operate independently of computer device(or any other device disclosed herein). For example, one or more devices in BANmay be configured to function as an all-day activity monitor that measures activity regardless of the user's proximity or interactions with computer device. It is to be further understood that the sensory systemshown inand the device assemblyshown in, each of which are described in the following paragraphs, are merely illustrative examples.

i. Shoe-Mounted Device

In certain embodiments, deviceshown in, may comprise footwear which may include one or more sensors, including but not limited to those disclosed herein and/or known in the art.illustrates one example embodiment of a sensor systemproviding one or more sensor assemblies. Assemblymay comprise one or more sensors, such as for example, an accelerometer, gyroscope, location-determining components, force sensors and/or or any other sensor disclosed herein or known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, assemblyincorporates a plurality of sensors, which may include force-sensitive resistor (FSR) sensors; however, other sensor(s) may be utilized. Portmay be positioned within a sole structureof a shoe, and is generally configured for communication with one or more electronic devices. Portmay optionally be provided to be in communication with an electronic module, and the sole structuremay optionally include a housingor other structure to receive the module. The sensor systemmay also include a plurality of leadsconnecting the FSR sensorsto the port, to enable communication with the moduleand/or another electronic device through the port. Modulemay be contained within a well or cavity in a sole structure of a shoe, and the housingmay be positioned within the well or cavity. In one embodiment, at least one gyroscope and at least one accelerometer are provided within a single housing, such as moduleand/or housing. In at least a further embodiment, one or more sensors are provided that, when operational, are configured to provide directional information and angular rate data. The portand the moduleinclude complementary interfaces,for connection and communication.

In certain embodiments, at least one force-sensitive resistorshown inmay contain first and second electrodes or electrical contacts,and a force-sensitive resistive materialdisposed between the electrodes,to electrically connect the electrodes,together. When pressure is applied to the force-sensitive material, the resistivity and/or conductivity of the force-sensitive materialchanges, which changes the electrical potential between the electrodes,. The change in resistance can be detected by the sensor systemto detect the force applied on the sensor. The force-sensitive resistive materialmay change its resistance under pressure in a variety of ways. For example, the force-sensitive materialmay have an internal resistance that decreases when the material is compressed. Further embodiments may utilize “volume-based resistance”, which may be implemented through “smart materials.” As another example, the materialmay change the resistance by changing the degree of surface-to-surface contact, such as between two pieces of the force sensitive materialor between the force sensitive materialand one or both electrodes,. In some circumstances, this type of force-sensitive resistive behavior may be described as “contact-based resistance.”

ii. Wrist-Worn Device

As shown in, device(which may resemble or comprise sensory deviceshown in), may be configured to be worn by user, such as around a wrist, arm, ankle, neck or the like. Devicemay include an input mechanism, such as a depressible input buttonconfigured to be used during operation of the device. The input buttonmay be operably connected to a controllerand/or any other electronic components, such as one or more of the elements discussed in relation to computer deviceshown in. Controllermay be embedded or otherwise part of housing. Housingmay be formed of one or more materials, including elastomeric components and comprise one or more displays, such as display. The display may be considered an illuminable portion of the device. The displaymay include a series of individual lighting elements or light members such as LED lights. The lights may be formed in an array and operably connected to the controller. Devicemay include an indicator system, which may also be considered a portion or component of the overall display. Indicator systemcan operate and illuminate in conjunction with the display(which may have pixel member) or completely separate from the display. The indicator systemmay also include a plurality of additional lighting elements or light members, which may also take the form of LED lights in an exemplary embodiment. In certain embodiments, indicator system may provide a visual indication of goals, such as by illuminating a portion of lighting members of indicator systemto represent accomplishment towards one or more goals. Devicemay be configured to display data expressed in terms of activity points or currency earned by the user based on the activity of the user, either through displayand/or indicator system.

A fastening mechanismcan be disengaged wherein the devicecan be positioned around a wrist or portion of the userand the fastening mechanismcan be subsequently placed in an engaged position. In one embodiment, fastening mechanismmay comprise an interface, including but not limited to a USB port, for operative interaction with computer deviceand/or devices, such as devicesand/or. In certain embodiments, fastening member may comprise one or more magnets. In one embodiment, fastening member may be devoid of moving parts and rely entirely on magnetic forces.

In certain embodiments, devicemay comprise a sensor assembly (not shown in). The sensor assembly may comprise a plurality of different sensors, including those disclosed herein and/or known in the art. In an example embodiment, the sensor assembly may comprise or permit operative connection to any sensor disclosed herein or known in the art. Deviceand or its sensor assembly may be configured to receive data obtained from one or more external sensors.

iii. Apparel and/or Body Location Sensing

Elementofshows an example sensory location which may be associated with a physical apparatus, such as a sensor, data acquisition unit, or other device. Yet in other embodiments, it may be a specific location of a body portion or region that is monitored, such as via an image capturing device (e.g., image capturing device). In certain embodiments, elementmay comprise a sensor, such that elementsandmay be sensors integrated into apparel, such as athletic clothing. Such sensors may be placed at any desired location of the body of user. Sensorsmay communicate (e.g., wirelessly) with one or more devices (including other sensors) of BAN, LAN, and/or WAN. In certain embodiments, passive sensing surfaces may reflect waveforms, such as infrared light, emitted by image-capturing deviceand/or sensor. In one embodiment, passive sensors located on user'sapparel may comprise generally spherical structures made of glass or other transparent or translucent surfaces which may reflect waveforms. Different classes of apparel may be utilized in which a given class of apparel has specific sensors configured to be located proximate to a specific portion of the user'sbody when properly worn. For example, golf apparel may include one or more sensors positioned on the apparel in a first configuration and yet soccer apparel may include one or more sensors positioned on apparel in a second configuration.

shows illustrative locations for sensory input (see, e.g., sensory locations-). In this regard, sensors may be physical sensors located on/in a user's clothing, yet in other embodiments, sensor locations-may be based upon identification of relationships between two moving body parts. For example, sensor locationmay be determined by identifying motions of userwith an image-capturing device, such as image-capturing device. Thus, in certain embodiments, a sensor may not physically be located at a specific location (such as one or more of sensor locations-), but is configured to sense properties of that location, such as with image-capturing deviceor other sensor data gathered from other locations. In this regard, the overall shape or portion of a user's body may permit identification of certain body parts. Regardless of whether an image-capturing device is utilized and/or a physical sensor located on the user, and/or using data from other devices, (such as sensory system), device assemblyand/or any other device or sensor disclosed herein or known in the art is utilized, the sensors may sense a current location of a body part and/or track movement of the body part. In one embodiment, sensory data relating to locationmay be utilized in a determination of the user's center of gravity (a.k.a, center of mass). For example, relationships between locationand location(s)/with respect to one or more of location(s)-may be utilized to determine if a user's center of gravity has been elevated along the vertical axis (such as during a jump) or if a user is attempting to “fake” a jump by bending and flexing their knees. In one embodiment, sensor locationmay be located at about the sternum of user. Likewise, sensor locationmay be located approximate to the naval of user. In certain embodiments, data from sensor locations-may be utilized (alone or in combination with other data) to determine the center of gravity for user. In further embodiments, relationships between multiple sensor locations, such as sensors-, may be utilized in determining orientation of the userand/or rotational forces, such as twisting of user'storso. Further, one or more locations, such as location(s), may be utilized as (or approximate) a center of moment location. For example, in one embodiment, one or more of location(s)-may serve as a point for a center of moment location of user. In another embodiment, one or more locations may serve as a center of moment of specific body parts or regions.

illustrate various examples of hardware systems on which systems and user interfaces according to this disclosure that may be implemented and on which methods according to this disclosure may be practiced. In an embodiment, multiple users may work together share and capture target images using augmented reality programs.

shows a first computing deviceand a second computing deviceconnected and in communication with one another via a network, such as via an internet connection, via a local area network (LAN), via a wide area network (WAN), etc. The two computing devicesandmay be located remotely from one another. In some aspects the computing deviceandmay be mobile devices, such as cell phones or tablets. As shown in, the two computing devicesandeach establish a communication channel within the networkand communicate with a messaging server system(comprising one or more server computers) that provide data or information about the target between the computing devicesand. Any desired communication link and communication protocol may be used to provide and control the data exchange between computing devicesand. If desired, this same server systemmay provide communication data between the users on the computing devicesand(such as textual message data, webcam data, etc.) as will be described in more detail below. Alternatively, if desired, a separate communication linkmay be provided to support transfer of communication data between the computing devicesand.

Any desired types of computing devicesandmay be used without departing from this disclosure, such as any computing device capable of establishing a networked connection and/or a peer-to-peer connection and capable of providing the necessary display, user interface, and input capabilities, as will be described in more detail below. Some more specific examples of computing devicesandthat may be used in systems and methods in accordance with at least some examples of this disclosure include, but are not limited to: desktop computers, personal computers, laptop computers, palmtop computers, handheld computers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, computer workstations, televisions, and the like. Notably, the various computing devices,, etc. may be in communication with the networkand the server systemin the same or different manners without departing from this disclosure. Moreover, the communicating computing devices,, etc. used to display and capture the target image may be the same type or different types without departing from this disclosure (such as one desktop computer and one cellular telephone device), and the computing devices,, etc. may communicate with each other or with a system databasevia the same communication channels or via different communication channels (e.g., both users may connect to the system database through Wi-Fi, or one may connect to the system database through Wi-Fi while the other connects through cellular data. In further aspects, computing devices may display target images via the same applications or via different applications (e.g., both users may display the target image through a single application, such as Instagram, or through different applications (such as one user through Instagram and another user through a Facebook application, etc.).

Computing devicesandthat may be used in systems and methods in accordance with examples of this disclosure may include one or more input devices and a data processing system (e.g., including one or more microprocessors). Examples of input devices that may be included with computing devices,include, but are not limited to conventional input devices, such as: a keyboard (hard keyboard or soft keyboard); a mouse, trackball, rollerball, touchpad, or other pointing device; a stylus or other pen-type input device (e.g., for a tablet PC type computing device); a disk drive; a USB port; a network connection; a joystick type controller; a telephone connection; an Ethernet connection; voice recognition capabilities; etc. Also, any desired type of display device may be provided for use in conjunction with the computing devices,of systems and methods according to this disclosure, including display devices integrated with the computing device,itself or display devices separate from the computing devices,but in communication therewith, such as projector displays, separate monitor displays, etc.

The computing devicesandmay be connected to the networkin any desired manner without departing from this disclosure, including in conventional manners that are known and used in the art, such as any conventional wired or wireless connection and using any network connection protocol. The communication channel connectionbetween the computing devices,may be the same as or different from the system database connections without departing from this disclosure, and this connectionmay include technology that is conventional and known in the art. In addition to various computer-to-computer communication links that are known and used in the art for providing live, real time communications between two (or more) computers, the communication channel connectionfurther may include other types of communication channels between computers or users, such as an instant messaging channel, a peer-to-peer messaging channel, a conventional telephone connection, etc. As another alternative, if desired, the users could be located in close proximity to one another and may be allowed to communicate directly, in a face-to-face conversation, without the need for a separate communication channel. The communication channel, when provided, may use all of the same hardware as involved in the target image data exchange, all different hardware, or a combination thereof (e.g., some users using the same hardware, others using different hardware, etc.).

As described above (and as will be described in more detail below), systems and methods in accordance with examples of this disclosure will provide a user interface display on the user's computing device,. This interface will allow the user to see the target image and will allow the user to display the target image for another user to capture. The user interfaces on the various devices will be provided and controlled by one or more of the computing devices,and/or by the server system, and data for generating, maintaining, and receiving input through the user interfaces will be generated and provided via computer readable media included as part of or associated with one or more of the computing devices,and/or the server system. Examples of such computer readable media include, but are not limited to: computer-readable memories, both internal to a computer (e.g., hard drives) or separable from the computer (such as disks, solid state or flash memory devices, data available over a networked connection, etc.), including any type of computer readable media that is conventionally known and used in the computer arts.

In the example overall system shown in, the software for generating the user interface may reside on computer readable media present on or available to any one of computing device, computing device, or server system. Alternatively, if desired, the software, or at least some portion(s) thereof, may be reside on more than one of, or all of computing device, computing device, or server system. The sever systemmay be operated and maintained by the same organization(s) or individual(s) that operate and maintain at least one of the computing devicesandand/or network, or the server systemmay be operated, controlled, and maintained by a party separate from any or all of these entities. As some more specific examples, server systemmay be operated and maintained (and the user interface software also may be operated and maintained) by one or more entities whose products are being marketed and granted access through the augmented reality programs (e.g., a manufacturer, a retailer, a vendor selected by a manufacturer or retailer, etc.).

Another example overall system set up is illustrated in. While the overall network featuresmay be the same as or similar to those described above in conjunction with(e.g., LAN, WAN, internet, etc.), in this example set up, the separate and independent server systemis omitted. Rather, in the setup of, at least one of the two computing devices,(and optionally both computing devices,) drives the data exchange communications and includes the software for generating and controlling the user interface.

If desired, the networked communication between the users to exchange data may include features that allow the users to communicate with one another about the target image. Alternatively, as shown in, a separate user communication linkis illustrated. In addition to various computer-to-computer communication links that are known and used in the art for providing live, real time communications between two (or more) computers, the communication channel connectionfurther may include other types of communication channels between computers or users, such as an instant messaging channel, a peer-to-peer messaging channel, a conventional telephone connection, etc. As another alternative, if desired, the users could be located in close proximity to one another and may be allowed to communicate directly, in a face-to-face conversation, without the need for a separate communication channel. The communication channelmay use the same or different hardware from that used in the target image data exchange.

Collaboration between users to display and capture the target images also may take place, in at least some systems and methods in accordance with this disclosure, via direct communication between computing devices in a peer-to-peer manner, as shown in. Any desired hardware and/or protocols for this type of peer-to-peer communication may be used without departing from this disclosure, including conventional hardware and protocols as are known and used in the computer communications art. Also, as with the examples ofdescribed above, a separate user communication channel connectionmay be provided (e.g., for instant messaging, additional peer-to-peer messaging, a conventional telephone connection (which may use different hardware from that involved in inputting or capturing the target image data), etc.). The various other alternatives as described above foralso may be used in the setup ofwithout departing from this disclosure.

illustrate example embodiments for methods of using augmented reality programs to capture target images and upon verifying the captured image is a target image, performing a predefined output such as unlocking access to purchase a consumer product. The steps shown in these example flow charts may be executed by a single computing device, such as processors included in the first mobile deviceor second mobile device. Alternatively, execution of the steps may occur through only one of the first mobile device or second mobile device, or in combination with a system database. In some aspects the steps will be performed in order, but in other aspects steps may be performed in a different order or concurrently. For example, in some embodiments, captures may be performed by either of the user device, that capture information communicated to a system database, where the system database then determines if the capture information is recognized as a target image and responding to the user device with instructions. However, in other embodiments, the system database may communicate target image information and instructions to the mobile device prior to the user device capturing an image. Therefore the capturing of the target image, recognition of the target image, and execution of the instructions may all be performed at either user deviceor.

illustrates an exemplary system for implementing the present disclosure. As shown in, two user devices may comprise a user interface and a capture device. The user interface may include both a display and an input mechanism, where the input mechanism may be a button, touchscreen, or other way to input information. The image capture devices,and, may include one or more video cameras. The image capture devices may be configured to capture or record images or video, including recording or capturing the user interface display,and, of the other user's device. The user devices may be connected through a network to a system database which can analyze the captured images or video to determine if a target image is recognized, and send further instructions to the user devices upon confirming recognition of the target image.

illustrates an exemplary flowchart of steps that certain embodiments may take. First, at step, an image may be shared through an online platform. In some aspects this online platform may be a social media platform, such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or any other social media platform. The image may include target information to be recognized by a capturing device. The image may be shared by a first user through their social media account. As a next step, atthe image may be displayed on a first device. This may include through a second user's social media account. In some aspects a first user may share an image through an online platform and a second user may view the image using the same social media platform or through a different social media platform.